Legal advice: Choose your own solicitor

If you’ve been unlucky enough to be in an accident, but you have got legal cover, it makes life easier to have your legal expenses paid when you claim against the other party.

Your insurance company has already got an arrangement with solicitors and may insist that you use them, otherwise they won’t fund the claim. However, you do not have to use a firm of solicitors you know nothing about.

The simple answer is that you can instruct any solicitor you want to. Most insurance companies have a number of solicitors that they refer their claims to, however, as the client you have the freedom to instruct whoever you like. The only potential drawback is that your insurers can refuse to “insure” the initial stages of the claim, but your chosen solicitor will be able to advise you on other options to cover your claim anyway.

If it is necessary for your solicitor to commence court proceedings against the other driver, your insurance company cannot refuse to allow you to use the insurance policy you have with them which should cover any legal costs up to the conclusion of your claim.